This is my first twin and Ive been getting some mixed advice
the plane is 92" wing
I have 2 61 four strokes super tigers
now remember this is my first
some guys at the feild say both engines are fine the way they are
and one siad that I need to reverse one i am not sure
and if so how ?


Thanks

61 Four Stroke Super Tigers???


IF you can, put some out thrust in the engine mounts. Think in terms of the plane sitting level on its landing gear. Right engine a little to the right, Left engine a little to the left. A couple of degrees, will help with the TORQUE EFFECT of having 2 engines turning in the same direction. If you can get a counter rotating engine of the same brand, that would be good also. Tune the engines individually. Start and tune one, shut it off, then start and tune the other one. Then start them both and fly. You will never get both engines exactly in tune to each other, but you can get them close. Learn how to use your rudder, (very important if you lose an engine). Change both glo plugs at the same time, if you change them. Have an emergency plan if you loose or think your losing an engine. Make sure both fuel systems are as good as you can make them. Sounds daunting I know, but with twins you need to be careful, 2 of everything dont you know. When the engines hum and your in the groove, nothing like it.

Tell your friend to go blow it out his...

You don't need to reverse one.

Would it be nice? Yes, but far from a necessity. Of all the twins I've ever seen NONE but a few electrics have had counter-rotating props

Now Minn, you need to stop holding it all in like that, you need to let it out some times. You know it is not good for you

Not sure how he thought a 4s would run backwards? New cam and timing?

A little out thrust will help some. A couple of degrees is all. Just do not try to fly around with one engine out.

I was totally freaked out about my first twin. I had heard the stories of you need to do this and that and most of it came from people who had never flown a twin. I found out after the 5th flight or so, most of the rumors were just that, rumors. Plane did have a bad turn when an engine went out. But it did not go into a death spin or some other crazy stuff you may have heard. Just be ready for rudder inputs.


Buzz.

Far as I know Super Tiger do not make 4s, maybe you mean Thunder Tiger.. Any way, like others said the counter rotating is not necessary, a little out thrust as stated is best. Now I must say the P 38 is a snapper on an engine out. If it is the Nitroplanes one you have, it is not as bad as the Wing Manufacturing but it will snap if you make a wrong move on an engine out. I fly the Wing Manufacturing A26 which is not as bad as the P38. My buddy had the P38, his first engine out went fine and he got laxed on the second and guess what happen? Yep the duck spiral. There is a video on Youtube of a Nitroplanes 38 in a spin when one engine quit. So I know they do. All the 38s do. Just some are worse that others. I had the Nitro 38. Sold it because I hated the way they have the wing set up, makes for a carriage so you don`t mess up the horizontal stab when transporting and I did not like it enough to mod the wing. Too much work.
Now the engines will fly it, but depends on how your weight comes out, you might be in a struggle if an engine goes out. Hope your left thumbs are tuned very well because it will be busy.

Just in case you have doubts..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBDLP4onEuY

I fly RC twins & triples..... twins are a wonderful thing..... the sound is like music.

Like others have posted, the key is to keep your engines rpm as close as possible, ESPECIALLY with a P-38.
Twins also fight you a little bit in a turn.... they like to go straight.

Most crashes I have seen are when one engine fails and the pilot turns in to the "engine-out" side and the whole plane flips & crashes.
(stay away from the "dark side" Luke)

I just bought a "twin-sync" http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/items/WRCTWINSYNC.html and will install it in my H-9 B-25 & H-9 Twin Otter.

The Twin-Sync is supposed to keep the engines rpm's close together and drops to idle on the one remaining running engine if an engine goes out.... you then bring the throttle-stick back down & the running engine can then be throttled up. Watching twin RC crashes on You-Tube, by the time you realize one engine is dead.....it's too late.... especially if the field is noisy and the plane is down range a tad.

P-38 is my Dream-Twin..... but even after 5 years with twins I have not mustered up the courage to try one yet..... Good Luck Cowboy & have fun.... it's a wonderful hobby.

I have never once heard that before. Then again I've never done it either. Always tuned both running, one then the other....never a problem. Interesting...........

Well the main reason for that is so that the other engine don`t distract you on throttle up. Some people try to fiddle with the needles to get the engines to sync which can result in one being too lean and die in the air. If you do one at a time with the other off there is a far better chance both engines will come out right and you wouldn`t be chasing the tuning.

Actually, the reason for that is so you don't burn up too much fuel in one tank.

I've had quite a few twins and they are fun but a little more work.The main thing is don't try to get the engines too close in rpm's get each running good and reliable on it's own and then go fly.Don't worry about matching the rpm's.

At $25.00 a gallon that would be the only reason I'd do it.

Other than that it's just interesting.....

I've also heard of people using gyros in P-38's just in case....

FWIW... Enya 4S engines can be run backward by changing the cam timing.

Until you are used to the plane, I suggest this rule: One engine out, all engines, out. If you suspect an engine is out, go to idle and land as safe as you can. ANY abnormal movement must be suspected as an engine out. The plane can go out of control in what seems less than a second when one engine stops.

Fox makes reverse rotation cranks for several of their engine models. They've been doing this at least since the 1970's.

P 38 as a first twin? Hang on.

Alot of the twin horror stories are just that. I have seen a twin take off and just as the plane rotated from the ground, it lost an engine. The plane became difficult to turn with the ailerons but a combination of aileron and rudder and the plane was able to get to altitude and land without incidance. I have discovered is that you need two very reliable engines and those engines need to be synched RPM wise as close as possible both at the high end as well as the low end. You also need to be able to use aileron and rudder in tandem just in case. Twins are more work to set up and to prep at the field, but they are so worth it. Good Luck, Dave

What you saw was a plane that was in the hands of a good pilot that new what to do. He might have made it look easy, but don`t be fooled it took skill. This kind only comes with lots of flying time and good flying technique. I say that because a lot of people fly around and not use rudder at all. So when comes time for the left hand to kick in it remains frozen with the right hand doing the work. That may fly on a single engine but believe me it will not on a twin with an engine out or on many large scale warbirds. Guarantee you will loose the plane.

Hi Airshow
I hope you pay attention to what 91zulu just wrote. I practiced using the rudder in flight by making ALL of the turns with the rudder, long before I flew my first twin. I believe that every twin I have seen at our fields has ended up being totaled before the pilot got the hang of it. Except mine! It was a P38 with two Magnum 28 engines. On my second twin, after I totaled the first after many flights, I noticed that I was always waiting for one of the engines to stop. I was actually a nervous wreck. I was not enjoying myself. So I designed and built a Pusher/Puller plane. I flew it until the engines wore out. Most fun plane I have ever had. Many times I would not know that one of the engines had stopped. On a perfect day it could even take off on one engine. Making the first turn, at an altitude of about 8 inches, was always exciting.

FWIW I have had/have several twins and my rules are: (1) Use well broken in engines that are known to be reliable: (2) When tuning them, adjust the slowest engine first, then adjust the faster one DOWN to it. Engines running a bit rich are ok as long as they as they will reliably respond to a missed approach throttle up. test this by making a simulated low throttle approach and then apply "go around power" and make sure the engines both respond without bogging down or flaaming out: (3) Being perfectly in synch is not real important. Engines within 500 rpm of each other will do ok and they tend to synch in flight: (4) When tuning and you think you are ready to go, have a helper operate the throttles while you hold the nose vertical for 30 seconds or so at full power. An engine that might go lean and flame out on the take off may reveal itself. Nothing is worse than a "flame out" duing take off: (5) Let the model gain plenty of speed on the take off run, A flame during lift off at slow speed is almost always fatal to the model, it will snap roll into the dead engine before you know what is going on: (6) Be comfortable using rudder, it is your best friend with a dead or dying engine.: (7) other stuff I have forgotten but you might consider an alternate model from a 38 for your first try. I have had a 38 and they are a bit hot and unforgiving